Dáil votes to 'note' report which recommends legalising assisted dying
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The Dáil has voted to "note" a report which recommends legalising assisted dying.
The three coalition parties allowed a free vote on the issue, saying that it was a matter of conscience, leading to a 76-53 vote in favour of accepting a motion which notes the final report from the Joint Committee on Assisted Dying. The final report, issued in March with 38 recommendations, favours legislating for assisted dying in certain restricted circumstances.
It recommends that assisted dying be legislated for in cases where a person with an incurable illness is expected to die within six months, extended to 12 months when a person has been diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disease.
The Dáil has also passed a number of laws around hate crimes, maternity leave, and free HRT products for women in a late-term push to pass legislation before the general election.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee rejected the idea that moving forward with the bill having removed parts of the legislation that deal with incitement to violence or hatred was a "vanity project".
She said that the legislation would positively affect vulnerable people and that Ireland is the only country in Europe that does not have hate crime laws. The bill will provide for increased prison sentences for certain crimes, where proven to be motivated by hatred, or where hatred is demonstrated.
However, Sinn Féin's justice spokesperson Pa Daly said that issues remained with the Government's definition of "hate".
Separately, the Dáil passed the Maternity Protection Bill, which allows a pause in maternity leave for treatment for women facing serious illness and introduce maternity leave for members of the Houses of the Oireachtas. Children's Minister Roderic O'Gorman said that when enacted, Ireland will be among the first countries in the world to have allowed a pause in maternity leave.
The Dáil also passed the Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill, which will make provision for free HRT products.
As part of Budget 2025, €20m is being made available from January for the provision of free HRT products for women experiencing symptoms of menopause.